Dedham Police Mourn Deaths Of Two Retired Officers

DEDHAM, MA - The Dedham Police Department is mourning two of its retired veteran officers who died within two days of each other.

"This is a very sad week for the Dedham Police Department and their families as well as the town," said Deputy Chief Michael Buckley.

Officer Robert Nedder, Sr. of Medfield, affectionately known as "Kojak" after the bald television police detective, died on September 1. He served as an officer for 31 years.

Only a day before, the department announced the death of Officer Larry Costello, who joined the force on December 5, 1966.

Police Chief Michael D'entremont said he knew Costello for a couple of years before his retirement.

"He was a veteran officer who came in and did his job well," he said. "He was the backup officer for Dedham Square at the time. He was an all-around good guy."

D'entremont also knew Nedder before he retired on July 1, 2003 and admired him for his dedication to the job. Nedder joined the department on February 2, 1975.

"He was a very unique guy," he said. "His work ethic was like nobody else's. He showed up early and always gave you everything he had. He could work 20 hours a day, and his temperament would not change."

D'entremont added that Nedder was highly regarded as a juvenile officer, having the unique ability to connect with young people and steer them in the right direction.

"He was highly respected by the youth, the community, the school system and everybody who interacted with him in that role," the chief said. "He would have conversations with kids to try to solve problems as opposed to them ending up in the court system. He had a unique ability to manage that process."

"Officer Nedder was most well known for his work as a juvenile officer," said Buckley. "But he was also remembered for back in the 80s when he would direct traffic coming into the Dedham Mall."

He noted that the intersection at Incinerator Road could be especially difficult to navigate then because the Dedham Mall was at the height of its popularity.

"He often worked the Dedham Mall detail, which was very dangerous," Buckley said. "This was long before Legacy Place came about. It had a lot of popular stores and a lot of traffic."

Nedder grew up in Milton and was a graduate of Providence College. He received a master's degree in criminal justice from the American International College in Springfield. He was also a veteran of the Air Force and was stationed in Germany during his time of service as an international interceptor for security.

He received many accolades for his work, including the Lions Award, the Grangers Award, the Citizen of Excellence Award, Police Officer of the Year Award, and the Award for Dedication to Dedham Students given by the Dedham School Committee, according to his obituary.

Costello, in addition to being a police officer, was one of the department's ambulance drivers as well as a trained emergency medical technician.

"Back in the 60s and 70s, the Dedham Police Department ran the town ambulance," Buckley explained. "Officer Costello would direct traffic in Dedham Square. When he learned that someone was in need of an ambulance, he would walk back to the station and respond to whatever issues the ambulance was needed for."

He added that Costello and his partner, Officer Chet Gonski, would often spend their lunch hour helping pedestrians cross the street.

"Dedham Square was really busy because we had the district attorney's office there then, and we have the courthouse," Buckley said. "This is back in the days when we had beat cops who walked the streets. He was known for being a friendly face people would see at lunchtime. He was a very, very nice man."